Wallabies gutted by death of Sydney player

WALLABIES captain Stephen Moore has extended the team's support to grieving family members, friends and clubmates of Sydney rugby player Lachlan Ward.

The 25-year-old Warringah player died after collapsing on the field after a regulation collision in a fifth-grade match against Gordon at Pittwater Park.

Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful and the coroner will investigate the cause of death.

The shock loss of Ward has devastated his family and rocked the tight-knit Warringah club.

The Ward family is at the heart of the northern beaches club.

His brother Sam plays in the Rats' first grade side and has trained with Super Rugby teams, and his sister also works in rugby.

Ward was remembered by clubmates yesterday on social media, with Josh Holmes paying tribute to "a legend” who never let a thing in life get him down, and Warringah club president Phil Parsons posting simply "in a flood of tears”.

Wallabies players were gutted to hear the news of Ward's death after coming from the field in Melbourne, where they beat Fiji.

"It's a tragic accident ... and on behalf of the Wallabies and the broader rugby community, we want to show our support to his family in this time,” Moore said. "You never like to see that on the rugby field and it's a very sad day for Australian rugby.”